Céide Fields, Neolithic archaeological site in County Mayo, Ireland
The site contains a branching network of stone walls and field systems that spread across several square kilometers of Atlantic coastline. The interpretive center at the edge of the area offers insight into the layout of the parcels and the location of settlement sites beneath.
A farming community laid out the stone walls roughly five thousand years ago to divide cropland and separate livestock. Over the centuries a layer of peat grew over the fields, hiding the stone pattern until rediscovery.
The name comes from the Irish word for flat-topped hills and describes the gentle limestone coastal terrain. Visitors today see remains of dwelling structures and standing megaliths between the excavated stone walls.
The visitor center opens from late April through October and offers guided walks over the excavation grounds. Sturdy footwear helps on the wet paths, and waterproof clothing is advisable because of Atlantic winds.
A teacher discovered the walls while cutting turf in the nineteen thirties and recognized the regular pattern beneath the surface. His son conducted the scientific survey decades later that confirmed the age and extent of the fields.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
